Apparatus fob obtaining samples



y 1936. G. A. MACREADY Re. 19,963

APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM DRILLED WELLS Original Filed July 5, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E: 7&2,

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UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM DRILLED WELLS George A. Maeready, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original No. 1,896,522, dated February 7, 1933, Serial No. 572,889, July 5, 1922. Renewed October 10, 1927. Application for reissue February 2, 1934, Serial No. 709,518

8 Claims. (01. 166-1) This invention relates to well drilling appa- Fig, 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 ratus, and more particularly relates to drilled S W Cireuleting Check Valvesand bored wells. Fig. 5 is 'a cross section on line 55 of Fig. 3 The invention has for its broad object a provi- ShOWing the w v 11001 elementsa 5 sion of an apparatus for securing a sample of the 6 is a Cross Section 0 line 0! 3 natural fluid existant at the bottom of bored and Showing a s ti thr u t sw v pa drilled wells and especially the deep wells. l

In the drilling of deep wells it is a frequent Fig. '7 is a cross section on line 'l-'I of Fig. 3 occurrence that the oil bearing strata are below Showing the concentric Spindles 0f the 17001- one or more higher wat bearing t t and in Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 of Fi 3 10 such cases it is a very desirable practice to inter- Showing e tubular i core and the packing l pose a water seal between the oil bearing strata at El? provided thereonthe foot of the well and the. higher water bearing Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section showing diastrata. This division in the length of the well is grammatically h S ep of cutting a tap Seat in more or less of a haphazard nature for the reason the Well hole- 15 that the water seal may be introduced at a level 10 is a longitudinal Section Showing above the oil bearing strata and also above a water grammatically the step of Placing the peeking bearing strata with the result that there is not' teel- 1 an entire elimination of water from the bottom 11 is a longitudinal Section Showing of the well, and the water below the seal, theregrammatically the Step of introducing down 20 fore, is drawn into, or flows into, the foot of the pressure cheek Valve and maintaining wall casing and mixes with the valuable oil. This above the Said valveis especially objectionable, since it depreciates 12 is longitudinal eeetion shewlhg the quality of the oil and as well, also, it reduces grammatically the step of disehe'rgmg field Hem the maximum oil flow in direct proportion to the h tool pipe above the cheek Valve by compressed 25 amount of water that commingles with the oil.

Therefore, it il be clear that a very impor Fig. 13 1s a longitudinal section showing diatant advance is made in this art by the provision grammeheelh the release of Pressure and the of means for insuring the sealin of the well acupfiew of held from the formation at the feet of eul'ately and positively at such a point above the the tool- 30 oil bearing tr t as will exclude the nfixture Fig. 14 is a longitudlnal section showing diatherewith of water from the higher levels. grammatically the elseherge from the tool of Very expensjvely dug n and very expensive material collected above the check valve. apparatus are frequentl totally lost because of Fig. 15 1s a central longitudmal section showthe cementing in of a well at such point above the mg diagrammatically the trappmg of a final 35 oil strata as to not exclude the admission of water p18 of formation flmd retai ned by trap Valve' to th il and after the apparatus has been The following speclficational paragraphs will t d i it is practically impossible to recover it suflice to explain a form'of apparatus by which Therefore, the present invention consists of an the Present method" for 'obtammg Sample of 40 apparatus for determining accurately the proper the fluld which occurs naturally at any given level 40 level at which a deep well is to be sealed so as m a g g g gg sewn? he t t exclude t may e prac ice rom s samp e 1 may e strata wa r levels ab the on bearing determined whether or not the tested level 'conother Objects will be made manifest in the IOL tains water or petroleum, or a mixture of the lowing specification of an embodiment of the insame e state 45 vention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, h F wen hole 15 h t0 the desh'ed m I e tertains:

y e cu mg 00 s. aving een e 5 1 321 z gg central 58cm that oil is flowing into the foot of the well, it is g then desirable to seal the well at a point above the 5C 2 1s top plan of the reaimer Shown in oil bearing strata to cut oil. the downfiow of water from higher strata. In the diagrammatic draw- Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the ings, the Well is Shown as drilled down t any foot or a drill pipe carrying a packer swiveled suitable depth with an upper bore 13 and this is thereon. stopped ofi at a shoulder S which may either be 56 formed during the drilling of the well as by introducing an impervious plug of cement or other material, or by cutting with tools of different diameters. Below the shoulder S the well is drilled down as indicated at W with a diameter considerably smaller than the plug or shoulder bore S, as for instance, by a tool, such as a fish tail bit C. An important feature of the invention is that after the small holeW has been run down and the oil bearing stratum encountered, then means are introduced into the well for determining accurately the level at which to seal the'hole or casing to exclude water from the oil stratum.

To that end, I provide for cutting a seat and introducing a removable packing in the well at the seat, which packing will eifectively exclude the downward flow of water from levels above the oil stratum.

For instance, the process is disclosed as involving the cutting of a seat 2 at the top of the small well hole W and below the shoulder S above which is formed the larger bore B. This seat 2 is preferably conical so as to facilitate the making, readily, of a simple tight joint.

To cut the tapered seat, I provide a cutter, a form of which consists of a tapering body 3 of suitable length in diameter according to the dimensions of the well hole being drilled. The tapering tool body 3 is provided with longitudinally arranged cutting teeth 4 between the edges of which are formed, by the inclined backs of the teeth, longitudinal grooves 5 which permit the flow of fluid and cuttings upwardly about the tool or reamer while it is being operated and while circulating water or mud is being forced through the drill pipe 6 which is screwed or otherwise suitably connected to the head 3 of the reamer body, 3. The reamer has a longitudinal passageway 3 to provide for downward circulation of water or mud from the drill pipe 6 to facilitate the cutting' of a tapered seat 2. The lower end of the reamer 3 may be attached in any suitable manner to a drill pipe I of smaller diameter than the lower end of the taper reamer so that it can carry a cutter as the fish tail cutter C which will operate to redrill the well hole W and to expose the well formation body to permit inflow of fluid in its natural state in the bottom of the well.

The string of drill pipe carrying the reamer is operated a sufficient period of time to provide for the effective drilling of the tapered seat 2, and then this string of tools is removed leaving the hole in a clean condition for the reception of means for taking a sample of the well fluid.

Means for obtaining a tgst sample from the bottom of the well is shown as including adrill pipe ID of suitable length, to the lower end of which there is attached a substantial valve tube I I, the upper end of which is provided with an enlarged bore hole to receive the contiguous end of the drill pipe I 0 and below which the valve tube being externally reduced, and to it is attached a spindle head I6 abutting against the lower end of the valve tube II and having a bore I6 of somewhat less diameter than the bore I2 of the valve tube II. The spindle head I 6 is externally reduced, and from its lower end extends a spindle l6 through which the bore I 6' continues with substantially uniform diameter. Externally secured upon the reduced end of the spindle head I6 is a locking sleeve I'I having a sleeve ll abutting against a shoulder provided on the head I6. The lower end of the locking sleeve I I is internally threaded and receives a locking collar I8 which bears against a packing gland I9 which in turn operates to compress a cylindrical packing medium 20 which is compressed against the inwardly extending central body portion of the locking sleeve IT. This body portion is provided with a shoulder I'l at its upper part, and upon this shoulder rests the head of a hollow stem2 I shouldered complementary to the shoulder Il In this stem is turnably fitted the hollow spindle l6 of the spindle head l6. Between the spindle head I6 and the stem head 2|, suitable antifriction means as ball bearings 23 are introduced so as to permit the ready rotation of the rotary drill pipe ID with the attached valve tube II and the spindle head I6 and with it also the locking sleeve H.

The stem 2 I extends downwardly somewhat below the lower end of the locking sleeve I1 and on to it is threaded the upper end of a substantial packer body 25 having an upper shoulder 25 and a lower shoulder 25', and between these shoulders there is formed an elongated peripheral -seat in which is provided a suitable packing medium '26. This may consist of wood, metal, fibre or substance of other desirable characteristics which, when lowered into the well by the above described carrying parts, is designed to seat firmly upon the conical seat 2 provided therefor in the well hole.

To the lower end of the packer body.25 there may be attached any suitable coupling 21, and to this may be attached a suction or inlet pipe 28 of sufilciently small diameter to pass freely down into the well hole W below the conical seat 2.

Reference being made to Fig. 10, the packing and swivel device, as above' described, is lowered 7 into the well hole and during the lowering action circulation of water or mud from pumps may be maintained as is indicated by the arrows a; the pump mud passing down through the swivel drilling head at the top of the well, thence through the open bore provided through the swivel tool and packer, and thence out at the lower end of the foot pipe section 28. This circulation facilitates the lowering of the packing too-l into the hole and to its seat.

After the packing tool has been lowered to its position as is indicated in Fig. 11, there is then dropped into the top of the drill pipe II) a ball valve 30 which is of such diameter as to rest upon the seat formed in the head I6 at the upper end of the bore I 6' therein. When this ball or other suitable valve forming member 30 has taken its seat in the spindle head I6, then circulating fluid is forced into the drill tube and it will take a course as indicated by the arrows b downwardly in the drill pipe; the pressure of the mud tending to firmly seat the ball valve and at the same time to open the inwardly closing outlet check valves I3 in the valve tube I I. It will be seen that liquid in the well below the seated packing seal 26 cannot flow upwardly about the packing tool because of the firm bearing of the packer upon its seat 2, and further no fluid can pass into the swivel joint of the tool, since this-is internally packed by the packing ring 20 interposed between the locking Sleeve II and the stem 2| of the packing body 25. The circulation of the mud .up

' well.

about the drill pipe Ill prevents the latter from becoming stuck or "freezing in the well hole, and at the same time enables the substantially constant rotation of the drill pipe which further prevents it fromfreezing in place, though the packing body or plug may be held stationary in its seat 2.

There is neither circulation nor rotation of the foot section 28 attached to the packer The next step in the process is to effect the expulsion of the liquid which is supportedin the tool above the check valve 30, and this is accomplished by turning compressed air into the head of the drill pipe Hi, the pressure acting upon the column of mud M above the valve 30 and forcing this down to and out through the outlet valves l3. The ejected mud and fluid passes upwardly as shown by arrows c to and out at the head of the The air pressure is maintained for such a period and at such a degree as will resultin the expulsion of as much of the fluid in the drill pipe above the valve is forced out through the outlet string ID as is practicable; downward flow of the fluid through the packer being prevented by the check valve 30, this step being accomplished with rotation of the drill pipe I0.

Having ejected the mud in the drill pipe by compressed air, the next step is to turn off the compressed air and open the head of the well so as to permit the air to become displaced under static pressure of the fluid in the well below the seal or packer 2G. The greater degree of pressure of fluid in the wellhole below the packer therefore results in an upward movement of the fluid'through the foot pipe 28 and through the packer 26 and up against the check valve 30 so that this is lifted and the well fluid will then be free to rise as is indicated by arrow d, Fig. 13.

Concurrently with this operation the outlet valves l3 are automatically seated ,both by the action of their springs l4 and by the pressure of the liquid outside of the string 'of pipe I0. When an equilibrium has been produced in the drill pipe, there will be above the well fluid F, Fig. 13,.a column of the circulating mud M. and, unless this mud has been lifted to the top of the well there will be above the mud M air in the pipe I0.

It might be mentioned at this point that instead of forcing'the circulating mud out through the outlet valves by compressed air, that the mud can be pumped up through the drill pipe l0, or

it can be bailed up through the drill pipe. The

object of removing circulating mud from within the drill pipe stem is to reduce the quantity thereof as much as practicable so that at a later step it will be possible to obtain samples of the natural well fluid freefrom circulation mud dilution.

When pressure has been removed from the seated check valve 30 in the packing tool, the valve will be lifted as above described by the greater pressure of the fluid in the well hole, and as this rises above the check valve and as equilibrium is established, the check valve 30 again returns to its seat as shown in Fig. 14. It is then possible to again turn fluid under pressure into the drill pipe Ill above the seated valve, Fig. 14, and the material retained in the drill pipe with the water obtaining above the sealingpacker. The intermittent upflow through the packer and past the check valve 30 and the intermittent ejection thereof from the bottom of the pipe I II, is continued for such a period of time as will entirely remove the diluted portion of fluid from the small hole and string of tools. Thereafter, fluid pressure is turned off from the drill pipe l and the head of the well is opened and a trap valve 33 is dropped into the drill pipe.

The trap valve 33 is preferably of greater diameter than the bore of the valve tube I I, and this valve forming element, of whatever its character, will seat upon the end of the bore l2 and therefore will trap such of the natural fluid as rises from the bottom of the foot pipe 28 through the packer and into the lower portion of the drill pipe H] as is shown in Fig. 15. This trapped sample, therefore, is a true indication of the nature of the material that is found in the well hole below the sealing packer, and the string of pipe with the packer attached may then be lifted from the well hole, and the sample of fluid collected in the trap may be removed from the tool and analyzed.

. It will be seen that the above method enables the obtaining of a sample of the well fluid from below any individual level in the length of the well and if it be found that the well should be sealed at the first location of the packing device, the usual procedure of sealing may be completed. 0n the other hand, if it is found that the sample from the test indicates that there is water below the test level, then the well hole W would be redrilled to such diameter as to permit it to receive I6 may be packed of parts forming the tool, more especially true since it is intended that the rotation of the drill pipe shall be stopped for only short intervals.

Various modifications and changes may be resorted to within the spiritof the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for obtaining test samples from drilled wells comprising a pipe having a swiveled packer at its foot to engage a seat in the well hole, said device having valve means permitting expulsion of fluid by displacement from within the pipe into the space outside of the pipe above the packer but preventing flow of fluid in th opposite direction.

2. A device for obtaining test samples from drilled wells comprising a pipe having a swiveled packer at its foot to engage a seat in the well hole, said device having valve means permitting expulsion of fluid by displacement from within the pipe into the space outside of the pipe above the packer but preventing flow in the opposite direction, and means for trapping sample fluid in the pipe above said valve means.

3. A device for obtaining test samples from drilled wells comprising a pipe, a packer mounted on the pipe adapted to engage a seat in a well hole and prevent fluid in the well above the packer from entering the pipe below the packer, valve means permitting fluid in the well to enter the pipe from below the packer and become entrapped therein, and valve means permitting v fluid in the pipe above the packer to be'displaced therefrom into the space outside of the pipe above the packer but preventing flow in the opposite direction.

4. A packing tool comprising a rotatable pipe, a tubular member secured to said pipe, a swiveled packer secured to said tubular member, and valves associated with said tubular member permitting fluid to be forced from within thetubular member outwardly through the sides thereof and preventing flow of fluid in the opposite direction.

5. A packing tool comprising a pipe, a packer movably mounted upon said pipe, a valve adapted to permit upward flow through said packer but serving to prevent downward flow therethrough, and means permitting fluid to be'forced from said pipe into the space about said pipe above said packer but preventing flow in the opposite direction.

6. A packing tool comprising a pipe, a swiveled packer mounted upon said pipe, a check valve permitting fluid to pass upwardly through said packer but preventing downward flow therethrough a check valve permitting fluid to be forced from within said pipe into the space about said pipe above said packer but preventing flow in the opposite direction, and a check valve adapted to be placed in said pipe while in the well to prevent forcing of the fluid from within said pipe through'the walls of the pipe.

7. A packing tool comprising a pipe, a. tubular member mounted upon said pipe, '21. swiveled packer mounted upon said tubular member,- out-,

wardly opening check valves mounted in said tubular member above said packer, valve seats formed upon said tubular member above and below said check valves, and valves adapted to be inserted into said' pipe while in a well to seat upon said seats as and for the purpose described. 8. A well testing device comprising a body part having a lower pin projecting therefrom and forming a shoulder with the body part, a.

downwardly tapering packer surrounding said' GEORGE A. MACREADY. 

